Canadian Style Resume: What Are The Types of Canadian Resume Format?

Canada’s thriving economy makes it a popular destination for people looking to relocate for a better quality of life and employment opportunities. However, how can you stand out from the crowd when applying for a job?

A resume is the first impression for a job seeker. To be successful, a recruiter will spend less than 90 seconds scanning your resume. You have to make sure that you present yourself best within this time. You should focus on the following elements when creating an outstanding Canadian resume:

• Your personal information( name, contact. Email etc)
• Academic record
• Experience
• List of skills
• Additional Certifications and expertise
• Proper formatting according to Canadian style

This guide shows you how to create an eye-catching, professional Canadian resume by doing simple tweaks and writing in a proper format. Let’s get to the track!

What Is A Canadian Resume?

A Canadian resume is a document that summarizes your professional qualifications and experience for potential employers. It should be brief and to the point, highlighting your education, skills, and accomplishments.

The purpose of a Canadian resume is to get you an interview. Once you have that interview, you will have plenty of time to explain your skills and background in detail. However, some basic principles apply to most resumes:

• The resume should be easy to read.
• The layout of the resume should be consistent throughout the document.
• The information should be easy to understand at a glance.
• The content should be organized logically so that it’s easy for the reader to find what they’re looking for quickly and easily.

Format

The format of a Canadian resume varies from one industry to another. In general, there are two styles: chronological and functional.

Chronological Resume

This type of resume presents your work history in reverse chronological order, starting with your current position and ending with your past positions.

Functional Resume

This type of resume focuses on your skills rather than your job history. A functional resume may also be called a combination or hybrid one because it combines chronological and functional elements of a traditional CV (curriculum vitae).

Sample

Canadian resume template is available on the Internet, but if you’re starting your first job search, it’s probably best to use one of these templates as a guide rather than a template itself. 

If you use one of these professionally designed formats, you’ll avoid making common mistakes such as having illegible handwriting or being too wordy.

Format Difference Between American Resumes

The United States and Canada have vastly different cultures, norms, political systems, and economies, but their resumes are remarkably similar.

The difference between American resumes and Canadian resumes is not a big deal. You can follow the same format that you used to create your American resume and use it to create a Canadian version.

You need the appropriate knowledge, skills, and ambition to fill the position you are applying for. However, when writing, it is recommended that you use Canadian English rather than American English.

Types Of Canadian Resume Format

When it comes to jobs and careers, Canada also offers a lot of opportunities for people who want to find a job. However, if you are not from Canada or have never been there before, you probably need to know what kind of resume format you should use when applying for jobs in your country.

Here are some types of Canadian Resume Format:

Reverse Chronological Resume

The reverse chronological resume is the most common format. It is a timeline of your work history, starting with the most recent job and working backwards. 

This type of resume is excellent for people with a solid track record of professional success. However, if you are new to the workforce or have gaps in your employment history, there may be better choices for you.

Canadian resumes typically follow this chronological format, which consists of the following sections:

1. Name, title, and contact information on the resume header
2. Objective or summary of the resume
3. Professional experience
4. Academic record 
5. The skillset
6. Additional sections (Interests, Hobbies, Certifications or diplomas)

The layout rules for a Canadian resume are the same as those in the U.S. Good formatting guarantees that your document will appear proficient and readable.

The basic rules for resume layout are as follows:

• Use one-inch margins on all sides and double space between paragraphs to make your resume easy on the eyes.
• Adjust your line spacing to 1.15.
• Keep your resume to up to two pages.
• Resumes should be written in a clear font.
• Use bold and italics to draw attention to the most crucial parts of your resume, and make section headers bigger.

Functional Resume

The functional resume focuses on highlighting your skills and qualifications instead of past job titles and companies. This type of resume is helpful for people who want to make a career change but have little work experience outside their current field.

It can also be helpful for people who have been laid off or unemployed for an extended period and need to show how they still have value as an employee despite their recent job loss or lack of recent experience.

Combination/Hybrid Resume

A combination resume combines the best elements of both chronological and functional formats. It’s also called a hybrid because it uses elements from both types of resumes, such as a functional CV’s skills and a chronological resume’s experience section.

A combination resume is designed to present your skills and experience organizationally. It highlights your most robust qualifications for the job you are applying for but also allows you to include information about other jobs that may be relevant.

The combination format is ideal if you want to emphasize your transferable skills and experience while providing enough detail about each position to demonstrate your qualifications.

Writing A Canadian Resume

 Writing an excellent Canadian resume is essential because it can help you get a job. A Canadian resume should be written in an easy-to-read format and include relevant information about your work experience, education and skills. 

It should be concise and avoid using complex sentences or jargon. It is also essential to proofread your resume before submitting it to potential employers.

Below is the proper guideline for writing a Canadian resume:

A Header With Contact Information

This can be done by including your name, address and phone number at the top of each page. Also, include an email address and website URL if they are relevant to your job search.

Moreover, a Canadian resume with personal contact information helps ensure your resume doesn’t get lost in the shuffle and makes it easier for employers to get in touch with you. This may lead to more interviews and job offers.

Personal Resume Profile

The Personal Resume Profile is the first part of your resume, and it’s where you can sell yourself to a potential employer. It should include a resume objective or summary describing what you want to do with your career and a list of accomplishments that showcase your strengths and experience.

A resume profile includes a resume objective, a short statement explaining why you are applying for a particular job. And a resume summary which is a long paragraph that details your skills and experience.

Professional Work Experience

This section of your Canadian resume should include the most recent work experience. This allows you to highlight your skills and experiences in a specific field. If you have a lot of relevant experiences to highlight, try using bullet points.

A good rule of thumb is that each bullet point should be at most three lines. Job title, start and end dates, and locations can be included at the bottom of each job description. It’s also essential to include your job responsibilities in the job summary.

In addition, don’t just write down everything you did during your last job; instead, focus on those duties that best match the job description and skills required by this new position.

Education And Professional Qualifications

In Canada, it’s essential to include your education information in your resume. If you have graduated from college or university, list this information first, followed by high school or trade school.

If you have completed any courses or training programs, list them after your education information. Remember to include the year and location of your post-secondary education and training programs on your resume and the type of degree or diploma earned.

List Of Skills

This is one of the most critical sections of your resume. Include all the skills related to the job you are applying for.

For instance, when applying for an accounting position at a company, including any accounting software experience and any other relevant accounting-related experience, such as bookkeeping or payroll management.

Do not just list out every skill you have ever used and expect employers to know what they mean; instead, provide examples of how these skills have been applied in previous jobs or volunteer work demonstrating how well you perform them.

It’s essential to include your soft skills, which will help you show off your personality when filling out your skill section. These can be

• Communication skills
• Leadership and management skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Analytical skills

Make Use Of Additional Sections

If any additional information would help convince an employer to hire you over other candidates, then it makes sense to include it in your resume.

You can add the following section:

• Interests and Hobbies
• Achievements
• Awards
• Projects
• Languages
• Licenses and certifications
• Working as a volunteer

Things You Shouldn’t Include In A Canadian Resume

You know how to write a Canadian resume (including its format and what to include), but you also know that there are certain things you should never include. These are:

• Your Photo
• Date of Birth
• Marital Status
• Race
• Age
• Salary Needed
• Never tell a lie about your skills, profession or education

Potential employers pay attention to the candidate’s skills and experience and how they can be best fitted and productive for their company, not to the unnecessary details mentioned above. So, ensure your resume always highlights the most relevant and specific information about you.

Check Out 10 Mistakes That Will Ruin Your Resume:

Common Mistakes In A Canadian Resume

When it comes to Canadian Resumes, there are certain mistakes that you can make that will instantly turn off any potential employer.

Too Long

When writing a Canadian resume, one of the most common mistakes people make is trying to include everything they have ever done in their life. 

This is not necessary! You need only include relevant information about yourself that highlights your skills and experience relevant to the job you are applying for. 

Keep the length of your resume under two pages at most unless specifically asked for more information by an employer.

Poor Spelling And Grammar

Spelling mistakes are a massive no-no in the Canadian job market. Make sure your resume is free of grammatical errors and typos before submitting it! Employers will only dismiss candidates who take the time to proofread their resumes carefully.

Failure To Customize

Don’t just cut-and-paste information from your resume when applying for jobs within different industries or fields of work; make sure that every section is tailored specifically for each position for which you’re applying!

No Examples

Many Canadian employers ask for an example of something you’ve done in the past. If they ask you to list accomplishments on your resume, they want proof that those things happened, not just words on paper. So, each section has at least one or two examples of your work.

Obvious Exaggeration

Don’t exaggerate or lie on your resume. Most people try to exaggerate their skills and experiences to get hired by a company. 

This is not good because employers usually check the applications carefully before they hire someone. If you do this, chances are good that your employer will find out eventually, and it may cost you your job! 

Not Straight To The Point

A resume should be concise and straight to the point without unnecessary details about your life or personal interests, as these things are unnecessary when applying for jobs in Canada.

Your resume must be straight to the point and easy for employers to read quickly. Make sure that everything on your resume is relevant to the job description and position you’re applying for.

Misreporting Dates

 A common mistake is misreporting dates of employment. If you lie on your resume and say you worked at a company for two years when it was only one, you will look less impressive to potential employers.

Underselling Yourself

Putting yourself down is an excellent way to avoid being arrogant or boasting, but it can have the opposite effect on potential employers who read your resume.

For example, if you have held several senior positions throughout your career, listing them all in reverse chronological order will help the reader see how much experience you have accumulated over the years, which can be invaluable when deciding whether or not someone is qualified for a position.

Gaps

Some employers will only hire someone with gaps in their employment history if they believe this indicates that the person could not keep a job for some reason.

If you have gaps in your employment history due to personal reasons such as taking time off for illness or caring for children, ensure this information appears on your resume.

So that employers know why there are gaps in your work history and what type of work you did during these periods of unemployment.

Messy Format

A resume is a marketing tool that should be used to showcase your skills and experience clearly and concisely. Poorly formatted resumes can lead to the reader’s eyes glazing over and missing key points that could have been an excellent fit for the position you are applying for.

Instead of making the reader work hard to decipher what you have written, make your resume easy on their eyes by following these simple guidelines:

• Use a readable font size (between 12-16pt)
• Use bullet points or short sentences when describing your accomplishments
• Keep paragraphs short (3-4 lines max)
• Inappropriate information

Tips To Create A Canadian-Style Resume

Creating a Canadian-style resume is more challenging than it sounds. Creating a resume that follows all the game rules and conveys your message to potential employers takes time and effort.

Several tips can help you create a Canadian-style resume. Here are some of them.

Select The Proper Format

The format of your Canadian-style resume should reflect the job market’s needs in Canada. Canadian employers prefer chronological resumes over functional ones but may accept either format depending on their preferences.

If you’re applying for a job in Canada, using one of these formats will help you stand out from other candidates who submit resumes formatted in an American style.

Use Short Sentences

When writing your Canadian-style resume, make sure that all of your sentences are short and concise, as this will help with readability and make it easier for employers to find what they are looking for quickly without having to spend too much time reading through large paragraphs of text on each page of your document.

Write In An Active Voice

In the United States and Canada, resumes are written in an active voice rather than a passive voice. To make sure that you are using the right voice for your resume, read over your document and ask yourself which version sounds more natural and flows better.

Personalize Your Resume

While this may seem obvious, many people make the mistake of creating generic resumes for every job they apply for.

Your resume must be customized for each position you apply for to highlight your relevant experience and skills. A generic resume will rarely impress an employer enough to get you an interview.

Revise According To Each Job Listing

The crucial step in creating an effective Canadian resume is ensuring it’s relevant to the job listing. This is particularly important if you’re applying through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), which scans resumes for keywords and other criteria. It won’t be considered if your resume doesn’t match what they’re looking for.

Optimize For Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

Most companies use ATS software to screen potential employees before they see your resume. The software scans your resume and looks for keywords that match the job description. You will only be considered for the position if there are matches.

For example, if a company uses the word “customer service” on its job posting, use it on your resume. When your resume contains the right keywords, yours will likely be deleted before an H.R. manager sees it.

Use Kw

In Canada, employers often use applicant tracking systems to search for resumes that match their job postings. These systems scan your resume and highlight any keywords (the words the employer listed in their job posting) that appear on your resume.

The more relevant keywords you have in your resume, the more likely the system will pick yours out of the applicants. So it’s better to include any keywords from the job description in your cover letter and resume!

Use Canadian English

Canadian English has some differences from U.S. English – spelling differences, word choice differences, etc. In Canada, resumes should be written in standard Canadian English (not American English). 

This means that spelling mistakes should be avoided at all costs; there may even be one person who checks all resumes before they go out! 

Quantify Your Achievements

Canadian employers expect candidates to quantify their achievements on their resumes. Quantitative statements are important because they give hiring managers an idea of how much work they have done and how well they have performed on the job.

 For instance, instead of listing “managing a team of 10 employees” as an achievement on your resume, say, “managed a team of 10 employees and increased sales by 50%.” This gives hiring managers more information about your past performance without wasting too much space on your resume.

Include Unpaid Work Experience

Many employers in Canada don’t require applicants to include unpaid work experience on their resumes. However, if you have volunteered as part of a community organization or student group, make sure to include this information because it shows initiative and commitment.

Don’t Include Unnecessary Information

Canadian resumes only include a little information about your personal life or hobbies. This is because many employers are looking for professional employees who are dedicated to their work and don’t have time for anything else.

Therefore, try to leave information unrelated to your job experience or skills out of your resume.

Always Include A Cover Letter

The cover letter is one of the essential parts of any Canadian resume because it allows you to introduce yourself and explain why you want this particular job so much that you would move across borders.

It also lets employers know what kind of personality they can expect from candidates from other countries with different cultures and traditions than those practiced in Canada.

Don’t Include References

References are not typically included on Canadian resumes because employers contact references during the interview process instead of before it.

Carefully Follow The Application Instructions

Each job application will have specific instructions regarding how it should be formatted and completed. Follow these instructions carefully to ensure your application is accepted with consideration for its content.

That is why It’s also essential to follow their application instructions closely when applying to companies in Canada.

FAQs

Conclusion

A resume is an essential tool for job seekers. It’s a way to present yourself in the best possible light, and it can make all the difference in getting your dream job. The key to writing a resume in Canada is to tailor it to the job you are applying for.

While there are many different formats of resumes and cover letters, they all serve the same purpose: to introduce yourself to potential employers and let them know what your skills and experience are so they can make an informed decision about whether or not you’re suitable for the position.

We hope the tips and formats discussed above in the guide will help you create a resume that reflects your professional goals and accomplishments to gain a first job.

We wish you good luck with your next job!